Man who fled to Mexico found guilty of Berkshire County rape

A former Pittsfield man was convicted Wednesday of raping a man and threatening to blackmail him if he reported the crime.

Defendant Cesar Lagunas, 51, was not present in Berkshire Superior Court to hear the jury return a guilty verdict on charges of rape and intimidation of a witness. He fled to Mexico in the middle of the trial, according to the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.

The rape occurred on April 15, 2019.

“The survivor showed tremendous strength and resilience throughout this process. I am grateful for the jury’s verdict and appreciate their service,” District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said in a statement.

A warrant was issued for Lagunas’ arrest. Pittsfield Police, Massachusetts State Police and Homeland Security Investigations are looking for him.